North
South bid up to a small slam in spades after East
had overcalled a natural two diamonds over North's
one notrump opener.
West
led the six of diamonds, won by declarer Phil Taylor
in hand. He took the spade finesse to find that he
seemingly had an inescapable trump loser.
With
the club finesse likely to be wrong the contract
looks doomed, but Phil was able to play for a rare
ending.
He
took another trump finesse, then three rounds of
each red suit ruffing in hand. Now king, ace
and a third club left East on play in the position
below.
Whichever
red suit East plays, South trumps and West's trump
trick disappears.
This
ending is called a smother play.
Thanks to Nicholas Greer for reporting this deal |